Demystify audit reports - Necku

Ho, Sept. 1, GNA - Colonel Cyril Necku (Rtd), the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, on Tuesday, urged personnel of the Internal Audit Agency to make audit reports less bulky and meaningful to the ordinary person to promote accountability in offices. Col. Necku was opening the Mid-Year Review meeting of the Internal Audit Agency in Ho.

The Internal Audit Agency was established in 2005, as an independent body, to ensure accountability in public institutions. The Review attracted heads of decentralized Ministries, Departments and Agencies, representatives of Municipal and District Assemblies and personnel of the Internal Audit Agency. Col. Necku noted that revelations at the Ghana @ 50 Commission of Enquiry indicated that though many individuals were interested in Audit Reports they were unable to appreciate them. "You have a very important role to play in the nation's economy but you need to demystify your work and procedures for everybody to understand," he emphasized.

Col. Necku urged heads of MDAs to cooperate with personnel of the Internal Audit Agency to ensure accountability in their offices. Mr Patrick Nomo, Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, advised the public to take Audit Reports seriously and implement their recommendations to promote accountability. He called for the establishment of "Effective Performance Management Systems and "Risk Management Systems at MDAs to enhance public sector financial management.

Mr Nomo said Risk Management Systems, for instance, would help minimize fraud while Effective Performance Management Systems would check employees to follow procedures and meet set targets. The five-day Review meeting is to afford the Agency the opportunity to do self assessment and fashion out the way forward. It would also help it to develop action plans for the rest of the year and draft work-plan for 2010.